Trolley Overhead Adjacent Works Program (TOH AWP) Project Consent Process Guide for project owners August 11, 2021 2 Table of contents About TransLink ................................................ ................................................................ 3 About the Trolley Overhead (TOH) System ...... ................................................................ 4 Risk Associated with Working near TOH .......... ................................................................ 5 TOH Limits of Approach ................................... ................................................................ 6 TOH Adjacent Works Program (AWP) .............. ................................................................ 7 Which Projects Trigger the TOH AWP .............. ................................................................ 8 The TOH AWP Project Consent Process ......... .............................................................. 10 TransLink Information ....................................... .............................................................. 13 Additional Information ....................................... .............................................................. 15 Contact TransLink ............................................. .............................................................. 16 3 About TransLink TransLink serves more than one million passengers every day and connects people, businesses and communities across Metro Vancouver. It operates an integrated regional transportation network consisting of buses, SkyTrain, West Coast Express commuter trains, SeaBus commuter ferries and HandyDART accessible buses and Park and Ride facilities. It owns, operates and maintains critical bridge infrastructure (Knight Street Bridge, Pattullo Bridge, Golden Ears Bridge and Westham Island Bridge) and it shares responsibility for the Major Road Network (MRN) with municipalities across Metro Vancouver. TransLink is authorized by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act (SCBCTA Act) to maintain and protect its system and provide safe, continuous operation to the public. As stewards of the system, TransLink must diligently act in the public’s best interest in all of its business affairs. TransLink’s Real Estate Division established the Trolley Overhead Adjacent Works Program under its Adjacent & Integrated Development (AID) Group to facilitate development adjacent to TransLink’s trolley overhead infrastructure, to manage and protect its property rights during development and to preserve the safe, secure and uninterrupted operation of the transit system during construction. 4 About the Trolley Overhead System The Trolley Overhead (TOH) System spans across Burnaby and Vancouver, powering its trolley buses which carries thousands of passengers each day. The system, which includes 315 km of overhead network, powers 262 trolley buses and supplies 22 rectifier stations, occupies city streets above sidewalks and are also in close proximity to roadway structures. The overhead wires are energized with 600 volts of direct current (VDC) in which the overhead feeder lines are mounted onto power poles or lamp standards, and the feeder lines are extended between adjacent lamp standards on which running wires for the trolley buses are run on to be powered. 5 Risks Associated with Working near Trolley Overhead In a recent Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) Safety Risk Assessment, it was determined that contact made to the energized trolley overhead lines was sufficient to cause serious injury or death to a person. Even after a section of the system has been isolated, residual hazardous energy may be present in the wires. Inadvertent contact to feeder or running wires may cause serious injury to public and/or significant damage to equipment, leading to major disruptions to bus service levels in the surrounding area of damage. 6 TOH Limits of Approach Any development site that is within 10 meters of TransLink infrastructure, transit facilities, roads, Park and Ride, bridges or ramps, or is within 25 meters of a station must undergo TransLink’s Adjacent and Integrated Development (AID) Program and be granted consent, even if the property is not encumbered with a statutory right-of-way in favour of TransLink or one of its affiliated or subsidiary companies. For projects specifically around TOH system infrastructure, the following limits of approach will apply. Project Signage Requirements Specific safety signage should be installed and maintained in a prominent location on-site: Signage indicate the Limits of Approach and Precautionary Requirements (available at translink.ca/realestate) Signage with TransLink emergency phone number and contact information Wallet cards for each worker, as shown below. Graphics will be provided by TransLink 7 8 TOH Adjacent Works Program (AWP) The TOH Adjacent Works Program (TOH AWP) allows TransLink to assess the risks of each project against TransLink’s operational and legal requirements to provide safe, efficient and reliable service to its passengers and protect its infrastructure from damage. Due to the serious hazards of the energized TOH system, the Limits of Approach must be respected at all times. Only qualified CMBC tradespersons with specialized training are permitted to make contact with and work on the TOH system. If the project requires working within 3 meters of any trolley overhead infrastructure, TransLink will assess the appropriate protective measures required for that section of the system. 9 Which Projects Trigger the TOH AWP TransLink is primarily concerned with construction activities in close proximity to infrastructure that could cause damage, affect operations or endanger transit passengers or employees. TransLink’s attention is primarily focused on activities within the limits of approach (within 3 meters from trolley overhead infrastructure), or which require TOH system adjustment or relocation. Examples of construction activities which may trigger the requirement for consent include, but are not limited to, activities that could: 1. Result in direct collision with TransLink infrastructure, especially with rolling stock that carries passengers (i.e., buses and SkyTrain trains), including: Cranes, excavation equipment, bucket trucks, ladders and other moving equipment that could enter the limits of approach from above or below, including unplanned intrusions. Any form of physical connection to TransLink infrastructure or facilities, or any relocation of TransLink infrastructure or facilities. 2. Result in items falling onto the trolley wires, or other infrastructure that would cause service disruption, injury or death, including: Improperly secured work zones, from which tools, material, equipment or people could fall Scaffolding erected adjacent to any TransLink infrastructure Built structures that have openable windows, open balconies or other openings above a station, guideway, bus loop, structure or vulnerable infrastructure 3. Provide unauthorized access to elevated TOH infrastructure, including: Construction scaffolding or ladders Tall equipment and materials parked or stored next to the infrastructure Built structures, whether temporary or permanent 4. Disrupt pedestrian, bicycle or vehicular access to TransLink facilities, including: Temporary bus loops, re-routing of trolley services, sidewalk, bicycle or road detours and community notification. Development or construction that results in new driveway or road access onto TransLink roads, ramps or bridges 5. Create unsafe conditions for TransLink passengers, employees, contractors or vendors, including: Tripping hazards resulting from temporary sidewalks, curbs and gutters that aren’t flush with permanent improvements. Construction fencing with sharp edges or large mounting feet. Equipment, materials or supplies that protrude through, above or below safety fences and barriers. 10 6. Impact operations and routine or periodic maintenance procedures on TOH infrastructure, especially those where TransLink access is routinely or occasionally required to service TOH poles, feeder cables, and running wires. 11 The TOH AWP Project Consent Process The following is an outline of TransLink’s TOH AWP Consent Process (the “Consent Process”). It is intended to serve as a guideline in obtaining TransLink’s consent to developments adjacent to TOH infrastructure and operations, but is not exhaustive of all potential issues or requirements. TransLink reserves the right to amend or supplement the Consent Process at any time from time to time without notice. The Consent Process consists of five phases as follows: Phase 1 – Introductory Phase Phase 2 – Project Assessment Phase 3 – TOH Adjacent Works Agreement Phase Phase 4 – Execution Phase Phase 5 – Construction Phase 12 The following is a description of the Phases and Related Milestones: Phase 1 - Introductory Phase To initiate Phase 1, the project owner should contact TransLink when either working within 3 meters of TOH infrastructure, or when requiring any TOH adjustments. The project owner will submit a TOH Adjacent Works Request Form to provide their contact information, the civic address of their site, and high level details of their project and anticipated impacts to the system. TransLink will arrange for a site kickoff meeting with the project owner to identify potential impacts on transit infrastructure, facilities and operations, and proximity of proposed work within the TOH Limits of Approach. 1st Milestone: TransLink